Grading System and Other Regulations: GRADING SYSTEM


NOTE: This document was generated from the 1995-1997 UIUC Programs of Study. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but be advised that requirements may have changed since this book was published. Errors may have also been introduced in the conversion to a WWW document. Thus for items of importance, it might be wise to seek confirmation from either the paper version or a live human being.


Faculty members have the responsibility to provide the University with an individual evaluation of the work of each student in their classes. Final course grades are entered on the student's permanent University record at the close of each semester, term, or session. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign uses the following grading system: A = excellent; B = good; C = fair; D = poor (lowest passing grade); E = failure, including courses dropped for academic irregularities; Ab = absent from the final examination without an acceptable excuse (counts as a failure). If a student is absent from a final examination and it is clear that taking the examination could not have resulted in a passing grade for the course, a grade of E may be given instead of Ab. In addition to the above grades, instructors in the College of Law are authorized to assign plus and minus grades.

Computation of Scholastic Averages

For numerical computation of scholastic averages, the following values are designated: A = 5.0; B = 4.0; C = 3.0; D = 2.0; E and Ab = 1.0. (College of Law only: A = 5.0; A- = 4.67; B+ = 4.33; B = 4.0; B- = 3.67; C+ = 3.33; C = 3.0; D = 2.0; E and Ab = 1.0.)

Uniform Method for Calculation

A uniform method for calculating undergraduate grade-point averages has been established for all undergraduate colleges on the Urbana-Champaign campus. These averages are calculated on the basis of all courses attempted for which grades and credits are assigned and that carry credit in accordance with the Courses catalog. Since courses offered by the religious foundations on or near the Urbana-Champaign campus are not official University courses and are not included in the Courses catalog, the grades earned in such courses will not be included in the calculation of any grade-point averages. Grades of S, U, CR, NC, and Pass (see next section on Other Symbols in Use) are reported on official University transcripts but are not included in grade-point averages since grade-points are not assigned to these letter grades. This method of calculation is used to determine honors, probation and drop status, financial aid and scholastic awards, and transfer between colleges on this campus.

For the purpose of computing a grade-point average for graduation, only the grades received in those courses counting toward the degree, including grades in repeated courses, are included in the average. (See Grade-Point Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree on General Education Requirements.)

For the special method used to determine eligibility for transfer into the University, refer to the transfer admission policy on Admission of Transfer Applicants.

Other Symbols in Use (not included in the computation of averages)

W--Approved withdrawal without credit.

EX--Temporarily excused. Approved extension of time to complete the final examination or other requirements of the course. Applies to both undergraduate and graduate students. Entitles the student to an examination later without fee, or additional time to complete other requirements of the course. (Only the dean of the student's college may authorize such an extension of time in an individual case. A grade of EX that is not removed by the end of the first eight weeks of instruction in the next semester in which the student is enrolled in an undergraduate college on the Urbana-Champaign campus automatically becomes a grade of E. If the student receiving an excused grade does not reenroll on the Urbana-Champaign campus, the excused grade, if not removed, becomes an E after one calendar year.)

CR--Credit earned. To be used only in courses taken under the credit-no credit grading option. (Instructors report the usual letter grades. Grades of A, B, and C will automatically be converted to CR.)

NC--No credit earned. To be used only in courses taken under the credit-no credit grading option. (Instructors report the usual letter grades. Grades of D, E, and Ab will automatically be converted to NC.)

IP--Course in progress.

Miss--Missing grade. Instructor has failed to submit a grade for the student.

DF--Grade temporarily deferred. To be used only in those thesis, research, and special problems courses extending over more than one semester that are taken by graduate students as preparation for the thesis and by undergraduate students in satisfaction of the requirements for graduation with honors, and in other approved courses that extend over more than one semester. (Requests for use of the DF grade in courses that extend over more than one semester, and therefore require postponement of the final grade report, must be submitted in writing by the executive officer of the department offering the courses to the dean of the appropriate college for concurrence. A current list of courses that have received such approval is maintained in the Office of Admissions and Records.)

S--Satisfactory, and

U--Unsatisfactory. To be used only as final grades in graduate thesis research courses, in graduate and undergraduate courses given for zero credit, and in other courses that have been specifically approved by the head or the chairperson of the department concerned, with concurrence of the appropriate college dean. A current list of courses that have received such approval is maintained in the Office of Admissions and Records.

Pass--To be used only in courses passed by special or proficiency examinations. A minimum grade of C is required to pass.

Credit-No Credit Grading Option

The credit-no credit grading option is designed to encourage students to explore areas of academic interest that they might otherwise avoid for fear of poor grades. All students considering this option are cautioned that many graduate and professional schools consider applicants whose transcripts bear a significant number of nongrade symbols less favorably than those whose transcripts contain none or very few. Likewise, in computing a preadmission grade-point average, some of these schools may convert the NC symbol into a failing grade since they do not know whether the actual grade was a D, E, or Ab.

A full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing (not on probation) may, with the approval of his or her adviser, take a maximum of two courses each semester under the credit-no credit grading option. Part-time students may take one course each semester under this option. Summer session students may take one course under the credit-no credit option.

A maximum of 18 semester hours earned under the credit-no credit grading option may be applied toward a baccalaureate degree at the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University. A correspondence course taken on a credit-no credit basis will be included in the 18-semester-hour credit-no credit limit.

Any lower- or upper-division course may be chosen under the credit-no credit option except courses used to satisfy the University's general education requirements, courses designated by name or area by the major department for satisfying the major, and those specifically required by name by the college for graduation. In cases of subsequent change of major, courses previously taken under the credit-no credit option in the new field may qualify for meeting major requirements.

For a course taken in residence, undergraduate students must exercise the credit-no credit option only during on-campus registration, within the first eight weeks of instruction in a semester, during the first four weeks of an eight-week course taught in a fall or spring semester, during the first two weeks of instruction in the four-week summer term, or during registration or within the first four weeks of instruction in the eight-week term. Students may elect to return to the regular grade option by filing an amended request within the first eight weeks of instruction in a semester, within the first four weeks of instruction in an eight-week course taught during a semester, during the first two weeks of instruction in the four-week summer term, or within the first four weeks of instruction in the eight-week summer term. The credit-no credit option form must be properly approved and deposited in the college office.

Instructors are not informed of those students in their classes who are taking work under the credit-no credit option, and they report the usual letter grades at the end of the course. These grades are automatically converted to CR or NC. Grades of C or better are required in order to earn credit. Credit-no credit courses are not counted toward the grade-point average but are included as part of the total credit hours. Final grades of CR or NC (for credit or no credit) are recorded on the student's permanent academic record and subsequently will not be changed to letter grades.


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